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Distance Learning

Doctor of Nursing Practice distance learning students complete the program through synchronous and asynchronous classes, on-campus visits, and clinical experiences in thestudent's home community. The DNP program is not a fully online program.

Distance delivery is available to geographically eligible students in the following Doctor of Nursing Program practice areas:

Doctor of Nursing Practice Tracks

While we do offer distance courses, our Nurse Midwifery and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner tracks require a significant number of days on campus. The distance option often works best for students living in rural Utah or in nearby states who are within a reasonable driving distance of the University of Utah. On-campus requirements include the following:

       • Students attend 5 simulations in each of the 4th, 5th, and 6th semesters in our state-of-the-art simulation center on campus. Simulations are required and in-person only.

       • Additionally, our program is partnered with a faculty practice of CNMs and WHNPs in the Salt Lake City area, and starting in the 3rd semester, most clinicals are completed with these preceptors. While distance students may complete some of their clinical shifts outside of our faculty practice, students should plan to complete at least the 3rd and 4th semesters of the program with this faculty practice to build a solid foundation. Most clinical courses require a minimum of 10 clinical shifts.

 

Eligibility

A synchronous distance option is available for students living 60 or more miles from the University of Utah campus. Priority admission is given to students living in the Intermountain West region. The Intermountain region consists of Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Arizona, and New Mexico.

On-Campus Visits

Distance learning students are required to come to the University of Utah campus throughout their program, at their own expense, to participate in orientation, intensive educational experiences, exams, and to defend their synthesis or scholarly project. Distance students should not expect to travel to campus more than five times a semester.

Clinical Placements

Programs only guarantee clinical placement sites along the Wasatch Front. Students wishing for clinical sites outside of the Wasatch Front must work collaboratively with their Specialty Track Director. Students who live outside of the Intermountain West Region and are unable to travel to the University of Utah Campus will be expected to work with their specialty track director to arrange appropriate clinical experiences and to cover the cost of faculty site visits/clinical supervision.

Malpractice Insurance Information

The U's Health Care Professional Liability (Malpractice) insurance through the Utah State Division of Risk Management provides coverage for U students engaged in providing services to members of the public in the course of an approved medical, nursing, or other professional healthcare clinical training program. However, this insurance policy restricts coverage for activities outside the State of Utah. This restriction is significant because of the potential loss of the University's defenses, limitations, and protections under the Governmental Immunity Act of Utah. Therefore, to avoid being underinsured and to comply with insurance requirements imposed by training facilities, students must purchase commercial Malpractice insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $3,000,000 annual aggregate for those students who are placed in clinical settings outside of Utah. This insurance with these industry standard liability limits must also cover U supervising faculty (if applicable) and the U of U as an institution. Please contact Health Clarkson: heather.clarkson@nurs.utah.edu for more information.